Las Olas Taqueria open for business in Exeter

EXETER — At least once a day since he met his wife, Julie, five years ago, Matt Burke has made the same statement: He wanted to open his own burrito shop.

Lara Bricker

EXETER — At least once a day since he met his wife, Julie, five years ago, Matt Burke has made the same statement: He wanted to open his own burrito shop.

While voters were headed to the polls on primary day, the Burkes were seeing that dream become a reality as they opened the doors at their new Las Olas Taqueria on Portsmouth Avenue. The eat-in or take-out spot focuses on healthy, tasty and affordable homemade Mexican food. They offer burritos or soft tacos stuffed with a choice of chicken, steak, pork or beans and an assortment of fresh toppings. Customers select their meat or beans, and then customize their selection with fresh salsa, guacamole, sour cream, tomatoes, onions, fresh cilantro, fresh squeezed lime to name a few. It's all made to order in front of customers and ready in minutes.

Burke, who fell in love with homemade burritos while living in Colorado, returned to the Seacoast nine years ago. He joined the family business as a builder but kept the dream of opening his own burrito joint. After looking around the region, he saw the building on Portsmouth Avenue — most recently home to Shakers Lounge — for rent. It seemed like the ideal spot.

"I've always loved Exeter," Matt said. "The people are fantastic. We felt like this town could use something like we were about to do and could support it."

With his experience as a builder, Burke set to work gutting the inside of the building. With an open canvas before them, the couple worked with an interior designer to develop a place that had the look and feel of an oasis. Matt's friend Jess Gray designed their logo with a focus on waves, which is what Las Olas means in Spanish. The waves were the inspiration for the rest of the decor, which focuses on organic shapes and bright colors like mango, lime green and teal. Tables had a wave-like shape as does a tall bar in the center of the restaurant that curves across the room.

The end result is a room that seems to flow from the kitchen to the seated tables with an open tropical feel.

"I want people to have an escape when they come here," Matt said. "I want them to feel like they're in a nice, cool place."

That place would be comfortable for everyone from those in business suits to landscapers to families. Julie found accents, such as a Toucan, through an estate sale and paintings of waves by local artist Anthony Curro adorn the walls.

"We hope to tie in more local artists," Julie said, adding the art work will stay with the wave theme.

Chef Gustavo Escobar, who has worked at several taquerias in Massachusetts, leads the kitchen team that makes up recipes fine tuned over months by the Burkes. Matt traveled around the region and to Boston with chef Daniel McCarthy, a caterer from Lowell, Mass., to find the best and tastiest burrito shops. They then took ideas from those restaurants to develop the Las Olas menu. With the help of friends and family, the Burkes then spent months trying out and refining those recipes.

Their efforts have paid off.

"People have been incredible," Julie said of their customers.

Their menu is deliberately simple to start with burritos, tacos, salads and quesadillas, but the number of taste combinations is almost endless with the selection of toppings, Matt said. As the restaurant grows, they plan to add specials each day and hope to incorporate some local food. They are already working with the local Kellie Brook Farm, which is supplying a fresh chorizo sausage, which will be a filling special in the near future. They offer a selection of domestic and Mexican beers and wine and plan to add a sangria in the spring.

Customer response to the restaurant has been overwhelming and the Burkes are thrilled with their decision to open in Exeter. Matt's love of burritos and Mexican fare is still as strong as ever.

"It's healthy, good food," he said. "We crave it every day and we have it every day."

New 'Wave'

Las Olas Taqueria is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays and closed on Mondays.

Advertise

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
seacoastonline.com ~ 111 New Hampshire Ave., Portsmouth, NH 03801 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service